U.S. patent number 5,398,280 [Application Number 07/829,492] was granted by the patent office on 1995-03-14 for paging system for remote computers.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Mead Data Central, Inc.. Invention is credited to Robert N. MacConnell.
United States Patent |
5,398,280 |
MacConnell |
March 14, 1995 |
Paging system for remote computers
Abstract
A system is disclosed for supplying information in electronic
form from a database to subscribers at a plurality of remote
locations. Subject matter descriptors are applied to newly acquired
information, and these descriptors are compared with information
interest profiles maintained for all of the subscribers. Each
subscriber also has an assigned identification number. A list of
identification numbers is prepared as a result of the interest
check, and this list of numbers is broadcast by radio transmission.
The subscribers are equipped with radio receivers able to recognize
their assigned numbers. When a radio receiver recognizes its
identification number, it causes an associated remote computer to
call the database and request transmission of the document by
telephone link.
Inventors: |
MacConnell; Robert N. (Dayton,
OH) |
Assignee: |
Mead Data Central, Inc.
(Dayton, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
25254684 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/829,492 |
Filed: |
February 3, 1992 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
379/93.25;
379/110.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L
51/38 (20130101); H04M 11/022 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04M
11/02 (20060101); H04L 12/58 (20060101); H04M
011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;379/57,56,93,102,104,105,106,107,110 ;340/825.47,825.44 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Teletext Remote Control by R. T. Russell; Wireless World, Apr.
1979; pp. 53 thru 56. .
PCT/US82/01443, Apr. 1983..
|
Primary Examiner: Kuntz; Curtis
Assistant Examiner: Woo; Stella L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Biebel & French
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus for receiving data from a host computer
comprising:
a radio receiver for receiving a radio signal indicating the
availability of data for a specific remote location;
decoding means for decoding said radio signal to establish an
identification of the remote location for which said data is
available;
control means responsive to said decoding means for generating an
interrupt signal;
a connector provided with a plurality of data transmission
pins;
dual in-line connection means connected for receiving said
interrupt signal and applying said interrupt signal to a
predetermined one of said data transmission pins;
a computer having a parallel port connected to said connector and
responsive to the presence of said interrupt signal on said
predetermined one of said transmission pins by temporarily
suspending a program then in operation and generating a code
corresponding to a telephone number for said host computer;
a modem for dialing said number, receiving said data from said host
computer and relaying said data to said computer; and
switching means responsive to said control means for switching
power to said computer, so that said computer is able to respond to
said interrupt signal.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said decoding means
comprises radiation generating means activated by successful
decoding of said radio signal, and said control means comprises
radiation sensing means responsive to radiation emitted by said
radiation generating means.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said radio receiver and
said decoding means are incorporated into a hand-held unit, said
sensing means comprising fastening means for mounting on said unit;
said radiation sensing means being incorporated into said fastening
means.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said radiation generating
means comprises means for generating a magnetic field and means for
generating electromagnetic energy; said radiation sensing means
comprising means for sensing a magnetic field and means for sensing
electromagnetic radiation.
5. Apparatus for receiving data from a host computer
comprising:
a hand-held unit including a radio receiver for receiving a radio
signal indicating the availability of data for a specific remote
location and decoding means for generating a magnetic field in
response to the occurrence of a predetermined code in said radio
signal;
control means comprising a holster for removably seating said
hand-held unit, a sensing band secured around said hand-held unit
and attached to said holster, and means responsive to said magnetic
field for generating a recognition signal;
a computer responsive to said recognition signal for generating a
code corresponding to a telephone number for said host
computer;
a modem for dialing said number, receiving said data from said host
computer and relaying said data to said computer,
switching means responsive to said control means for switching
power to said computer, so that said computer is able to respond to
said recognition signal; and
dual in-line connection means having an output connector provided
with a plurality of connection pins and two input connections
interconnected for shared access to said connection pins; said dual
in-line connection means being connected for receiving said
recognition signal on one of said input connections and delivering
said recognition signal to a predetermined one of said connection
pins; said computer being connected for receiving said recognition
signal from said predetermined one of said connection pins.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus and method for relaying data
from a database to a remote computer. More particularly, the
invention relates to a system which is able to identify a specific
remote computer for which predetermined data is available, and
thereafter cause the data to be communicated from the database to
that computer. Such systems typically employ a host computer at the
database for managing the collection of information of varying
interest to locations served by the different remote computers. In
order to perform this function the host computer must assign
subject matter descriptors to each newly collected file of
information and identify the interested subscribers by comparing
the assigned descriptors against interest profiles for each of the
remote locations. Then the host computer must cause the opening of
communication links with remote computers serving the identified
subscribers and control the transmission of the information over
those links.
An example of an application in which the present invention finds
utility is an electronic subscription service which collects vast
amounts of newly generated information for dissemination to a large
number of subscribers. Heretofore such services have been available
primarily only to remote systems of a dedicated type. Typically the
subscriber has leased a specially configured electronic storage
device equipped with a suitable modem for telephone communications
with the host computer. When the host computer has concluded that
newly received data fits the interest profile of a particular
remote location, it has simply called the dedicated system at that
location, established a telephone link and transmitted the data.
For its part the local system has simply answered the call from the
host, received the information and printed it, either
contemporaneously or off line. While such a system effectively
relays the desired information, the requirement for dedicated local
hardware leads to inefficiencies in cost. The only available
alternative has been an electronic mailbox or bulletin board
arrangement wherein the remote computer has made periodic calls to
the host to check on the contents of its "box".
The mailbox arrangement works reasonably well for persons who are
regular users of computers, but it does not meet the requirements
of a business person who has a need to monitor information of a
specific type. For instance, a particular subscriber may want all
reports regarding the business operations of a specific competitor
and all reports of business acquisitions within a given industry.
This could generate several reports a day for that one subscriber,
and any particular report could be of overlapping interest to a
number of other subscribers. A service of this type requires a huge
database and encounters a variety of complex problems in targeting
and delivering its reports. An example of such a service is one
offered by Mead Data Central, Inc. under its service mark
ECLIPS.
The recent wide proliferation of personal computers has greatly
expanded the potential market for electronic subscription services.
But the problems inherent host-initiated communications have
discouraged market development. A call which is initiated by a host
computer cannot be received unless the remote computer is turned
on, is fully operational and is not otherwise engaged. Owners of
personal computers are disposed to change their hardware, software
or telephone numbers thereby thwarting incoming calls. Furthermore,
a personal computer which can be reached by an electronic
subscription service is vulnerable to calls from unauthorized
sources. The resulting security problem has remained a serious
obstacle to the marketing of electronic subscription services.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved apparatus and method for
communicating a message from a host computer to a predetermined
remote computer. The communication is host-initiated by a radio
link which broadcasts a code identifying the remote computer for
which the message is available. A radio receiver at the remote
station receives the code and responds by activating its associated
computer. The local computer then places a telephone call to the
host and receives the message in the conventional manner. The code
which is broadcast by the host system may comprise a unique address
for a specific remote computer or may simply identify the type of
information which is available for transmission. In an alternative
embodiment the host system transmits an identifying address (which
may be a simple telephone number) of the remote computer by
telephone link to a commercial paging service. That service in turn
broadcasts the address or another equivalent address to the radio
receiver at the remote station. As stated above, the local computer
then places a telephone call to the host.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the remote computer is
provided with a terminate and stay resident program for
establishing a communication link with the host. In this embodiment
the radio receiver simply generates an interrupt for the computer.
The computer periodically checks for this interrupt and executes
the communication program upon detection thereof.
The software for the remote computer preferably includes a batch
file which initializes the communication program at startup. An
indicator light may be provided for giving a visual indication of
the arrival of an interrupt during a period of time that the remote
computer is unpowered. The communication program checks the
interrupt status at the time of power-up and calls the host
immediately in the event that an interrupt has occurred. In an
alternative embodiment the remote computer is equipped with an
automatic switch which applies power whenever an interrupt signal
arrives during an unpowered state.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide improved,
host-initiated communications between a database and a
predetermined remote computer.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved
apparatus and method for customer servicing by an electronic
subscription service.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and
method for signalling a computer that another computer has
information to be transmitted.
Yet another object of the invention to provide improved security
for a data receiving computer.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from
the following description, the accompanying drawings and the
appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the paging system of the
invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of equipment at a receiving
station.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged illustration of an interface unit.
FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment of the interface unit.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a remote receiver.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Initially referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of
apparatus which carries out communications between a database 10
and a series of a remote sites 30. Database 10 receives new data
files from a plurality of sources 11. Each new data file is
assigned a series of subject matter descriptors by a host computer
12. Computer 12 also maintains an interest profile for each remote
site 30. After the subject matter descriptions have been assigned
to a new data file, those descriptions are compared against the
stored interest profiles for all of sites 30. It is to be
understood that database 10 may maintain interest profiles for
thousands of remote sites and that only three such sites are shown
for ease of illustration. Any given check of a new database entry
might produce any number of "hits" depending upon the specific
interest profiles being checked. In the preferred embodiment as
hereinafter described, a separate coded message is broadcast for
each remote site 30 having a predetermined interest in the new
entry.
Once the database 10 determines that a particular remote site 30 is
interested in a file containing newly acquired information, it
generates an address identifying that site and activates a
transmitter 14 to broadcast that address for reception by all sites
30. While all remote sites 30 receive the coded message, only one
site will recognize the address. In a specific application of the
invention the sites 30 may be subscribers to an electronic
publication service operated under control of database 10. Remote
site 30 has an interface unit 52 which includes a radio receiver
16, a sensing circuit 18, and a controller 20. Site 30 also has a
computer 24 and a modem 26. Receiver 16, preferably a pager, has a
decoder 17 (FIG. 4) of conventional design which processes all
received addresses and compares them against its own preprogrammed
address. When an address is recognized the decoder activates pager
16 thereby generating electromagnetic radiation and a magnetic
field which are sensed by a sensing unit 18. Sensing circuit 18
then produces a sensing signal to indicate that pager 16 has been
activated. This sensing signal is sent to the controller 20 which
in turn controls the operation of computer 24 through line 41.
Controller 20 also activates an indicator 22 (FIG. 4) which gives a
visual indication of the status of receiver 16 and the responsive
condition of computer 24. Pager 16 may include a timing circuit for
automatic deactivation after the short time period required for the
operation of sensing unit 18.
Remote computer 24 responds to control signals from controller 20
by activating modem 26 and establishing a telephone link with
database 10 across a telephone line 28. Once this link is achieved,
the newly available data is downloaded from host computer 12 to
remote computer 24. Computer 24 then stores the data on a disk or
in RAM for such use as may be desired. Alternatively, computer 24
may route the data directly to a printer. In the latter case the
computer may display an eye-catching indicator on its screen to
inform the user to look for the printout.
Now referring to FIG. 2, there is shown the remote site 30.
Controller 20 is built into the base of a holder or holster 54
which in turn is mounted on or near computer 24. Holster 54 is
provided with a recess for removably receiving the remote receiver
16. Holster 54 may be provided with an optional charging unit (not
illustrated) for maintaining a charge on the batteries (also not
illustrated) of receiver 16. Holster 54 is in communication with an
optional switch unit 40. The details of holster 54 are illustrated
in FIG. 3.
Controller 20 produces control signals for an indicator panel 22
which is mounted on holster 54 for indicating the reception of
messages from host computer 12. Upon sensing the receipt of such
messages controller 20 also generates an interrupt signal for
computer 24. The interrupt signal preferably is fed from controller
20 to computer 24 via line 41. Line 41 is coupled to a connector 42
(FIG. 3) adapted for plugging into an available parallel port or
dedicated serial port (not illustrated) on the computer 24.
Connector 42 may be a dual in-line device, so that the parallel
port may be shared with a printer or other peripheral device.
Therefore, the invention presents no interference with the normal
operations of the computer 24.
This invention may employ a computer 24 equipped with a
communication control program of the TSR (terminate and stay
resident) type. Such a program is loaded into memory when the
computer is booted and stays there in an inactive state while the
computer 24 performs other tasks. Generally only a program kernel
is loaded into memory. When the kernel is activated it interrupts
the program then in progress and transfers it into inactive memory
with all operating parameters saved. Then the kernel calls up a
utility program (in this case a communication package) from a
designated disk drive and begins a temporary substitute task. Such
TSR programs are well known and need not be described in detail.
One such program is available commercially under the trademark SIDE
KICK.
After the communications kernel has been stored in RAM, computer 24
performs other routine tasks and periodically checks for a hardware
interrupt at connector 42. In particular it looks for a state
change on a predetermined connector pin. If the computer is an IBM
personal computer equipped with a printer and a shared parallel
interface, then controller 20 may react to a radio message by
putting a high signal on a shared pin such as pin 11 of connector
42. This produces an interrupt which tells computer 24 that the
printer is busy. As a consequence the computer temporarily suspends
any transmission of data to the printer. This frees the parallel
port for use by controller 20.
Controller 20 senses the availability of the parallel port by
checking for strobing activity on pin 1. When all strobing activity
has stopped, controller 20 places a coded series of pulses on pin
32, the NOT ERROR pin, which the computer interprets as an
indication that a paging signal has been received. The computer
reacts by placing an acknowledgement signal on pin 31. The
acknowledgement signal preferably may be a pulse having a width
which will not be recognized by the printer. Upon receipt of the
acknowledgement signal, controller 20 lowers the busy signal on pin
20.
The communication utility remains on disk (or in dormant RAM) until
computer 24 recognizes a paging code on pin 32 of connector 42.
When the paging code is detected, the active program is
interrupted, and the communication utility is called up to perform
its task. That task includes activating modem 26, dialing database
10, requesting transmission of the available data, and storing or
printing the data when received. Computer 24 then returns to normal
activity.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, computer 24 has a
dedicated serial port 42' as shown in FIG. 4. A sensing unit 18'
detects the activation of a receiver 16' and triggers a controller
20. The controller then puts a high signal on pin 6 of the serial
port 42', and computer 24 acknowledges that signal with a high
return on pin 4. The computer then activates the TSR software to
initiate a communication link with database 10. The data is
transferred, and the computer again returns to normal
operation.
As an option, the present invention may use power switching device
40 to activate computer 24 from a power down state. In that
configuration controller 20 checks the status of switch 40 via line
38 whenever sensing unit 18 is activated. If switch 40 is OFF, then
a solenoid relay is activated to turn it ON. At this point computer
24 executes a batch file, boots itself up and activates the
communication link with the database 10. In the absence of switch
40 the controller activates indicator 22 and places a continuous
signal on the dedicated pin of connector 42. Then upon the next
power-up sequence computer 24 immediately calls up the
communication utility and contacts database 10 for the awaiting
information.
In an alternative embodiment the communications software may be
provided with a routine to check the priority of various
application programs available to the site. In that embodiment the
communications program interrupts only lower priority applications.
When higher priority applications are running, the link with
database 10 is postponed and a "WAIT" state is signalled by
indicator 22. The communication program is run only after other
higher priority programs have completed their tasks.
Now referring to FIG. 3, there is shown an enlarged illustration of
pager 16 removed from holster 54 and disconnected from sensing unit
18. In the preferred embodiment sensing unit 18 comprises bands of
hook and loop fastening material containing magnetic and
electromagnetic sensing circuits. Thus sensing unit 18 is easily
slipped around pager 16 at a location where maximum strength
signals may be received. Pager 16 is placed into holster 54 with
the sensing band wrapped therearound.
Indicator 22 provides a "DATA READY" indication when new
information is available from the database 10. If the remote
station is not equipped with a switch unit 40, then the "DATA
READY" indication also serves as a notice that computer 24 should
be switched on to initiate a telephone link with database 10. A
test switch 44 is provided for testing the controller 20 which
activates the controller 20 causing the computer 24 to call the
database 10. A jack 50 may be provided for connection to optional
switching unit 40.
Now referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a schematic block diagram
of interface unit 52. When pager 16 is activated by a radio signal
15, the active condition thereof is sensed by an electromagnetic
radiation sensor 56 and a magnetic field sensor 58, both
incorporated into sensing band 18. Sensor 56 produces a sensing
signal which is applied to an amplifier 60 of the controller 20.
The sensing signal is then amplified and input into a comparator
64. Magnetic field sensor 58 produces a sensing signal which is
input into an amplifier 62 of the controller 20. The amplifier 62
amplifies the sensing signal and inputs it into comparator 64. A
test signal may also be applied to comparator 64 by closing test
switch 44.
Comparator 64 is preferably an OR gate so that a signal received
from amplifier 60, test switch 44 or amplifier 62 will produce a
driving signal on line 66 for driver 21. When driver 21 is
activated by a driving signal on line 66 it produces a status
signal to the printer in-line connector 42 via line 41 and also a
control signal to power jack 50. Driver 21 additionally provides
indication control signals for indicator 22.
It will be appreciated that the invention may be practiced in a
multi-tasking environment without using the terminate and stay
resident program which is described above. In such an embodiment of
the invention there would be no need for the remote computer to
interrupt any application program in order to open a communication
link with the host.
While the methods herein described, and the forms of apparatus for
carrying this method into effect, constitute a preferred embodiment
of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not
limited to this precise method and form of apparatus, and that
changes may be made in either without departing from the scope of
the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *